Electric switch



Dec. 17, 1940. L. w. COLE arm.

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Sept. 29, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet l H w E m 5 m 5 mg m(Ma 6 6. W2 5. l i wa I) w m S l. m .P O T m M C Dec. 17, 1940. 1 'w.COLE EI'AL 2,224,848

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Sept. 29, 1937 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snnentors 1(Ittorneg Dec. 17, 1940. w COLE EI-AL 2,224,848

ELECTRIC SWITCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 29, 1937 will, IIIIIIIII.\\\\\\\\\\Q\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 1L 3rme'ntor5 A 00/5 W. C 01.5, CHRISTOPHERJ. mra, a IVA-49E Jam/$5M.

Gttorneg Dec. 17, 1940.

L. w. COLE ETAL 24, 48

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Sept. 29, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z'mventors AOL/u,W, COLE, Ora/s rap/151a Z", -SM/r/r 13 H51. 95 JAM/551M (ZttornegPatented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SWITCH tionof New York Application September 29, 1937, Serial No. 166,314

20 Claims.

The present invention relates to switches and more particularly to quickmake and break switches arranged within a casing and operable by meansof a handle mounted on the casing externally thereof.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide a compact safetyswitch which is simple in construction and reliable in operation and inwhich the arc which is formed when the circuit is interrupted iscompletely covered so that it is practically impossible for the operatorto make contact therewith even when the casing cover is in openposition. 7

It is also an object of the invention to provide a switch in which thefuses are readily accessible and which can be inserted, removed andreplaced substantially without danger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch of the characterdescribed with flexible stationary contact members and self-aligningmovable contacts engageable between said stationary members.

The invention also has for an object the provision of an operatinghandle of improved construction and more specifically a handle which iseasy to grasp and operate, which is of light weight yet rugged inconstruction, which can be made of a single piece of sheet metal bysimple stamping and die forming operations whereby said handle can beeconomically manufactured; also to provide a handle which eliminates thenecessity for intermediate spacing washers when fastened in operativeengagement with the mechanism on the interior of the casing, "and toprovide a handle which is operable through a.circular hole in a wall ofthe switch casing.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved quickmake and break mechanism which has a minimum number of simple 40 partsand in which the rate of movement of the movable switch contact memberis independent of the rate of movement of the handle after the initialmovement thereof. Further objects in this connection are to provide aquick make and 45 break mechanism which may be easily assembled anddisassembled without the use of special tools, to make such mechanismfrom parts stamped from sheet metal and economical to fabricate andassemble, and to provide a quick make and break 50 mechanism which makesunnecessary the use of small pins, rivets, eyelets or the like.

Another objector the invention is to provide an improved lock betweenthe switch operating mechanism and the casing cover whereby the 55 covercannot be opened unless the switch is in circuit interrupting positionand whereby the switch cannot be operated to circuit closing positionunless the casing cover is closed.

A yet further object ofthe invention is generally to improve theconstruction, operation, and 6 safety of electric switches.

The above objects of the invention and other objects ancillary theretowill be fully understood from the following description considered withreference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferredembodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the switch showing the casing cover inopen position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2a is a detail sectional view on the line 2a2a of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3I of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of a switch block made in accordance with thepresent invention:

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig.

.Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section,illustrating the interlock;

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the switch operating mechanismand part of the easins;

Fig. 9 is a view in elevation of part of the easing wall and of theswitch operating handle mounted in position therein;

Fig. 10 is a rear view in elevation of the switch operating handledetached from the casing;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line Il-Il of Fig. 9.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be observedthat the switch is housed within a metal casing it provided with apivoted cover I: and a spring latch i4 welded at its lower oflset endportion It to the inner surface of casing wall l8 and provided with acatch 20 adjacent its upper end which is releasably engageable withcover I! at an edge 22 of an open ing through said cover.

Switch blocks 24, which carry the stationary contact members, the fuses,and the switch terminals are mounted within casing ID in parallelrelation and are removably secured to a wall 28 of said casing in anysuitable manner as by 28. As blocks 24 may be identical in constructiona description of one of said blocks will be sufiicient.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 4, block 24,

which maybe made of any suitable insulation 7 are provided with alignedrecesses 48 through which the switch operating rod 48 extends. Astationary contact member is secured to the top 88 of block 24 by meansof a bolt 52 and has a refiexed portion 54 which projects through a slot88 in said top wall into the interior of the block, being spacedsomewhat from the adjacent side 58 of the thickened top portion 80 ofthe block. A companion stationary contact member 82 is fastened to top86 adjacent side wall 48 by means of a screw 84 and extends across andcompletely covers an opening 86 in the topof the block disposed betweenthickened portion 80 and the inner surface of side wall 88. Saidstationary contact member 82 has a refiexed portion 88 a part of whichlies closely adjacent the inner surface of side wall 88 and part 10 ofwhich is spaced from said side wall and is disposed in confrontingrelation to portion 54 of stationary switch contact member 50. As thusarranged said stationary switch contact members have flexible portions54 and 10 which, as will hereinafter appear, are engaged by the movableswitch contact member I2 for completing the circuit.

It will be observed that screw 64 which secures swigrcontact member 62in position constitutes one terminal of the switch and for that purposeis provided with a nut I4 threaded thereon for releasably securing theterminal end of the conductor or a connector terminal (not. shown) ofany suitable construction. It will also be observed that bolt '52 whichsecures stationary contact member 50 in positionalso servesto securefuse clip 16 in fixed electrical and mechanical connection with saidstationary contact member on the top 88 of block 24. The other fuse clipI8 is secured by a screw 80 in fixed electrical and mechanicalconnection with aterminal contac't member 82 fastened to the top of theblock by a U-shaped and is rigidly fastened to insulation member 80preferably in the manner illustrated from which it appears that oppositesides 82 of said switch contact member are in engagement with oppositesides of said'insulation member.

Insulation member 80 is provided with a slot 94 in which member I2 isinserted and a slot 88 in which tongues 88 projecting from sides 82 ofswitch member 12 are bent for rigidly securing said switch member toinsulation member 80.

Said insulation member is provided with a slot I00 through whichoperating rod 48 projects preferably in rather loose fitting relationtherewith whereby said insulation member and said movable switch contactmember'12 carried thereby may be moved into and out of engagement withstationary switch contact members 80 and 82. It will be observed that bythe construction just described there is provided an important featureof the present invention, namely, the flexible stationary contact memberin combination with a movable contact which is self-aligningtherebetween, and for thelatter purpose it is preferred that the openingI00 in the insulation member 80 be dimensioned so as to permit saidmember to slide on rod 48 in frictional engagement therewith.

As illustrated in Fig. 2 insulation member 80 is dimensioned so that itis disposed between said stationary switch contact members forming abarrier to the arc which may be drawn when the movable switch contactmember is moved to circult interrupting position. Movement of insulationmember 80 takes place within passage I02 formed in said block inalignment with the spaced stationary contact portions 54 and 10. Aplurality of spaced ribs I04 are disposed in confronting relation on theinner surface of the walls of said passage I02 for interrupting thecontinuity of said walls and thereby preventing the formation ofcontinuous coatings of conducting material which might otherwise bedeposited on said walls after repeated operations of the switch. Saidribs are preferably formed of the material of said block in integralrelation with the walls of passage I02 when the block is molded intoshape.

Rod 48 on which the movable switch members are mounted for pivotalmovement in relation to the stationary contact members is pivotallymounted at its ends in bearing openings IIB formed in bearing'membersII2 and H4 secured preferably by welding to casing :wall 26. As clearlyshown in Figs. 6 and 8, openings IIO are defined by opposed arcuateedges H6 and by opposed pointed edges H8 and I20, said last mentionedpointed edges serving as knife-edge bearings for rod 48. A cap I22 iswelded to bearing member H4 and is provided with a recessed portion I24in alignment with opening III! in said bearing member for receiving anend portion of rod 48 for limiting the longitudinal movement of said rodin one direction.

Rod 48 is actuated by a handle I26 through a quick make and breakmechanism which will now be described. Said mechanism comprises a leverI21 mounted on rod 48. Said lever is constituted as here shown by ametal plate having an opening I28 through which rod 48 projects. Asclearly shown in Fig. 3 opening I28 is defined by opposed arcuate edgesI80 and by opposed pointed edge I32. Said last mentioned edges providedknife edge bearings between said lever and rod 48 and said opening;flaring from said knife edges toward said arcuate edges thereby providefor limited relative movement between said lever and said rod to aid inproducing a quick opening of the switch. Lever plate I2I hasspacedprojections I34 and I86 and an intermediate arcuate edge portion I88.Projection I34 is provided with an opening I40 which communicates withan open-end slot I42. Said projection is engaged by the forked end I44of. a rod I48. Said forked end of the rod is provided with an openingI48 and with shoulders I50. Said end of rod I48 is connected toprojection I84 by engaging said end with opening I40 through slot I42,the spaced portions of projection I 34 at opposite sides of said slotbeing received within opening I48 in said jl'Od, and movable therein,whereby said rod and lever are pivotally connected. I Y

The other end portion of rod I I6 is slidably engageable with abracketI62 secured preferably by welding to casing wall I6. For this purposebracket I62 is provided with an abutment portion I64 having an open-endslot I66 therein through which said end portion of rod I46 projects forsliding movement. A compression spring I66 surrounds rod I" and has abearing at one end thereof on shoulders I66 of said rod and bears at itsother end on abutment I66. The bifurcated ends I69 of said abutment arereflexed somewhat to prevent unintentional disengagement of rod I46 andspring I66 from bracket I62. By the arrangement thus provided lever 121is effective to rock operating rod 66 with a snap action in bothdirections after movement of said lever is initiated by handle I26 inthe manner which will hereinafter appear. Movement of rod 46 in eitherdirection is limited by the engagement of edges I29 and I3I with thefoot I33 of bearing member H2 and also by the pointed edges of openingsIII. Said foot I33 being welded to casing wall 26 is a part of thecasing, but as said edges I29 and I3I of lever I21 hit with considerableforce it is desirable to provide for their engagement with foot I33instead of directly with wall 26, thus preventing loosening of theconnection of said bearing member with said wall.

For initiating movement of lever I21, handle I26 is operativelyconnected to said lever by a connecting plate I66 which is rigidlysecured to said handle by screws I62. Connecting plate I66 has a lostmotion connection with lever I21, and for that purpose said connectingplate is provided with an integral U-shaped extension I66 which asclearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5 straddles lever plate I21 at theintermediate portion I36 thereof between plate projections I36 and I36in position to engage either of said projections and thereby to move thelever in either direction first in opposition to the action of thespring projected rod I46 which is subsequently operative, as previouslydescribed, to move said lever by snap action in the direction of itsinitial movement by handle I26 and connecting plate I66. I

An important feature of the present invention resides in theconstruction ofhandle I26 and its. pivotal mounting in casing wall I6.First, with respect to the mounting of said handle, it will be observedthat the latter is provided with a hub portion I66 which has a pluralityof struck-out portions I66 the free edges of which lie substantially inthe arc of a circle concentric with the center of said hub portion. Saidhub portion is also provided with a pair of outwardly pressed circularprojections I16 defining openings through which fastening screws I62project for connecting handle I26 to connecting plate I66. Saidprojections I16 are positioned in tangential relation to and on theinside of the circle in which the outer edges of tongues I 66 lie. Saidcircle is substantially of the same size as circular opening I12provided in casing wall I6 whereby the outer edges of tongues I66 andcircular projections I16 have a bearing in the edge of said opening. Byreason of this construction it is unnecessary to provide a spacingwasher between handle hub I66 and connecting plate I66. A washer I16 isinterposed between the outer surface of easing wall I6 and the adjacentsurface of handle hub I66 whereby to frictionally retain handle I26 inany positionthrough its range of movement regardless of the lost -motionconnection between plate I66 and lever I21. Stop members I16 are securedto the outer'suri'ace of casing wall I6, preferably by welding, forlimiting the movement of handle I26 in either direction.

The novel construction of handle I26 will now be further described. Ashere shown said handle is provided with a spherical hand grip I16 andwith a shank I66, integral with each other and with hub I66. For thispurpose handle I26 is formed from a single sheet of suitable metal suchas sheet steel by suitable die stamping and bending operations. Moreparticularly, after the sheet metal blank from which the handle is madeis cut to the necessary shape, said blank is bent into the form shownfor providing the handle and is welded at a median line I62 in thespherical portion I16. Shank I66 of the handle is con- I stltuted by twolongitudinal extending transversely curved portions I66 which merge attheir desirable to provide an interlock between the casing cover and theswitch operating mechanism, whereby to prevent opening of the casingbefore the switch is moved to circuit interrupting position and toprevent movement of the switch to circuit closing position unless theswitch cover is closed. For this purpose the interlock which will now bedescribed is preferred. As here shown, more particularly in Figs. 3 and7, a pivoted lever I 66 is arranged for engagement with connecting diskI 66 and with a pin I96 fixed to casing cover I2 and projecting inwardlyfrom the side edge I92 of said cover (Fig. 1). Lever I66 is providedintermediate its ends with bearing opening I62 by which said lever isjournalled on a bearing I96 constituted by an inwardly pressedprojection formed, in a plate I96. Said plate is reniovably secured tothe inner surface of casing wall I6 by screws I96. The intermediateportion 266 of plate I96 is pressed outwardly from side plate portions262 to provide room for lever I66, the inner surface of plate portion266 and the adjacent surface of easing wall I6 forming a guide for thepivotal movement of said lever. The upper edge portion of plate I96 isprovided with a cut-out 266 which registers with a similar cut-out 266formed in casing wall I6 for receiv- I ing cover pin I66 when the coveris in closed position. One end of lever I66 is provided with anangularly disposed slot 266 in which pin I96 is received, said slottedportion of the lever constituting a latch to retain said pin againstoutward movement in certain positions of said lever. The other end oflever I66 is provided with a finger 2I6 which engages connecting plate I66 and is normally in engagement with the-circumferential edge of saidplate and when so engaged prevents release of pin I96 from the hookportion of the lever and thereby prevents opening of the cover. I

Connecting'plate I66 is provided with a recess 2I2 in a circumferentialedge portion thereof disposed so that when said connecting plate hasbeen moved to open the switch, finger 2 I6 can enter said recess topermit pivotal movement of lever I89 for releasing pin I96. Suchmovement of the lever is effected by a spring 214 secured at one endthereof between spaced inwardly pressed portions 2I6 and 2I6 of plateI96 and bearing at its other end on an edge of said lever.

said shoulder and thereby prevents movement of connecting plate I60,thus preventing movement of said plate for closing the switch, but whencover I2 is closed pin I60 engages in the slot 200 of lever I66 andthereby moves said lever to withdraw finger 2 I0 from recess 2I2 andfrom engagement with shoulder 220, thereby releasing plate I60 fromsaidlever for operation of the latter by handle I26 to effect the closing ofthe switch. In the construction described above it will be apparent thatthe switch parts,- including the switch block or blocks, the quick makeand break mechanism, and the operating handle maybe readily assembled inthe casing and also readily disassembled, and that a minimum offastening elements are utilized. It will be noted that rod 46 having theinsulation disks 60 and lever plate I21 assembled thereon may be readilyinserted in bearings H2 and H4, by inserting one end portion of said rodthrough opening H0 in bearing H2 and then moving said rod in a reversedirection to engage the opposite end thereof with the opening in bearingII4. Movement of rod 46 through opening H0 is permitted because of thepresence of circular opening I12 in casing wall I8 which is in alignmentwith the opening in bearing II2. After rod 46 is positioned in itsbearings, rod I 46 with spring I56 assembled thereon is engaged at itsforked end I44 with projection I34 and at its other end with abutmentI54 of bracket I52. When rod I46 and lever I21 are thus connected, saidlever plate lies adjacent to the upstanding portion of bearing I I2.After said rod and lever are connected, plate I60 is positioned inoperative engagement to said lever and is connected to handle I26 byscrews I62. It will be observed that lever plate I21 is held in positionadjacent bearing I I 2 by the free side of U-shaped projection I64 ofplate I60. It will be observed also that longitudinal movement of rod 48in 50 bearing H2 is prevented by connecting plate I60 which is spacedbut .a small distance from hearing II2. After the operating mechanism isassembled switch blocks 24 are mounted in'position and secured to casingwall 26, the insulation disks 90 with the movable contact memberscarried thereby being disposed within passages I02 for engagement withand disengagement from companion stationary contact members 54 and 10.By reason of the flexibility of said stationaryso contact members andthe mounting of the insulation disks on rod 46 for movementlongitudinally thereof, said movable contact members are substantiallyself-aligning for assembly purposes as well as for engagement with thestationary contacts in the operation of the switch.

-Reverting to the switch mechanism, a feature of substantial importanceresides in the provision of means for preventing the switch from beingretained in closed position which mightothe'rwise occur, notwithstandingtheoperation of the handle to switch opening position, by reasonfof thefriction between the relatively movable parts and the necessity forspring projected rod I46 15 thisvpurpose there is provided a coil spring200 spring projected rod I46and lever I21 is broken to overcome its deadcenter withlever I21. For

disposed about switch operating rod 40 and hearing at one end 202against an out-turned ear portion 204 of connecting plate I and at itsother end portion 206 against a struck-out portion 200 on plate I 21,said last mentioned end 5 portion being provided with a reflexed part240 projected into an opening.242 in said last mentioned plate. It willbe observed that the action 01' spring 200 is to assist spring I56iii-moving plate I21 to circuit opening positionand that said spring byopposing the movement of connecting plate I64, which is connected tohandle I26, is effective to return the handle to circuit closingposition unless the dead center between by the movement of said lever tocircuit interrupting .position, in which case handle I26 is also movedto circuit interrupting position. In other words, should handle I26 bemoved in a direction to open the switch but without actually effectingsuch opening, upon release of handle I26 spring 200 will operate toreturn said handle to circuit closing position which will serve toindicate that the switch has not been opened. It will be observed alsothat spring 200, by opposing the movement of lever I21 to circuitclosing position, cushions the movement of said lever beyond its deadcenter with spring projected rod I46 and thereby serves to decrease theimpact and consequent noise which might otherwise occur when said leverstrikes the foot I03 of bearing member I2.

While we have shown and described the pre-' ferred embodiment of theinvention it will be understood that the invention may 'be embodiedotherwise than as here shown, and that in the construction specificallyillustrated ordescribed herein, certain changes may be made within thespirit of the invention and will occur to those skilled in the artparticularly in view 01' the present disclosure; Therefore, we do notwish to be limited precisely to the construction herein shown ordescribed or to any part thereof or to all of the features of theinvention in combination unless required by the appended claimsconsidered with reference to the prior art.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric switch, a casing, bearing members secured in saidcasing and upstanding from a wall thereof, a rod mounted in said bearingmembers for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, an insulatingblock secured in said casing and provided with stationary contactmembers, a movable switch contact member operable by said rod andengageable with and disengageable from said stationary contact members,and means including a handle accessible externally of said casing foractuating said rod, said last mentioned means including also a membermounted on said rod for turning the latter, said member having alimited'turning movement in relation to said rod and having partsengageable with said casing at the end of the turning movement of saidmember in opening and closing the switch 2. In an electric switch, acasing, bearing members secured in said casing and upstanding from awall thereof, a rod mounted in said bearing members for pivotal movementabout its longitudinal axis, an insulating block secured in said casing'and provided with stationary contact members, a movable switch contactmember operable by said rod and engageable with and disengageable fromsaid stationary contact members, one of said bearing members having afoot 7 portion secured to said casing wall and means including a handleaccessible externally of said casing for actuating said rod, said lastmentioned means including also a member mounted on said rod for turningthe latter, said member having a limited movement in relation to saidrod and having parts engageable with said foot portion at the end of theturning movement of said member in opening and closing the switch.

3. In an electric switch, a casing, stationary contact members in saidcasing, a rod mounted in said casing for pivotal movement in diiferentdirections about its longitudinal axis, a movable switch member mountedon said rod and provided with a contact member engageable with anddisengageable from said stationary contact members upon movement of saidrod in said different directions, respectively, a handle mounted in saidcasing and operably externally thereof, a lost motion connection betweensaid handle and said rod comprising a plate mounted on said rod andoperable to impart pivotal movement thereto, said plate having spacedperipheral projections, and a connecting member fixed to said handle andoperable thereby to selectively engage said projections for initiatingthe movement of said rod in a predetermined direction, and springactuated means operatively connected to said plate i'or completing themovement of said rod in the same direction, said plate having partsengageable with said casing for limiting the movement of said springactuated means in said direction.

4. In an electric switch, a casing, stationary contact members in saidcasing, a rod mounted in said casing for pivotal movement in differentdirections about its longitudinal axis, a movable switch member mountedon said rod and provided with a contact member engageable with anddisengageable from said stationary contact members upon movement of saidrod in different directions, respectively, said casing having a wallprovided with an opening, a handle operable externally of the casingrotatably mounted in said opening, said handle having an integral partin rotary engagement with the edge of said wall of the casing at saidopening therein, said edge of the wall constituting a bearing for saidhandle, a member associated with said rod for pivotally moving the same,and means releasably engageable directly with said last mentioned memberand removably connected directly to said handle and operable thereby foractuating said last mentioned member, said last mentioned means alsoserving to retain said integral part of the handle in said opening.

5. In an electric switch, a casing. bearing members secured in saidcasing and upstanding from a wall thereof, a rod mounted in said bearingmembers for pivotal movement about its longit' dinal axis, said bearingmembers having surface portions which engage said rod to limit thepivotal movement thereof, an insulating block secured in said casing andprovided with stationary contact members, a movable switch contactmember operable by said rod and engageable with and disengageable fromsaid stationary contact members, said casing having a wall provided withan opening substantially in alignment with said rod, and means foractuating said rod including a handle mounted for rotation in saidopening. a member mounted on said rod for pivotally moving the same,said member having a limited turning movement in relation to said rodand having parts engageable with said casing at the end of the turningmovement of said member in opening and closing the switch, and meansremovably connected to said handle and operable thereby for actuatingsaid member.

6. In an electric switch, a casing, bearing members secured in saidcasing and upstanding from a wall thereof, a rod mounted in said bearingmembers for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, an insulatingblock secured in said casing and provided with stationary contactmembers, a movable switch contact member operable by said rod andengageable with and disengageable from said stationary contact members,at least one of said bearing members having means to limit the pivotalmovement of said rod, and means operable externally of said casing foractuating said rod, said last mentioned means including a member mountedon said rod, having a limited turning movement in relation thereto, andhaving a part engageable with said casing for limiting movement thereofin one direction.

7. In an electric switch, a casing, a bearing member secured in saidcasing and upstanding from a wall thereof, a rod mounted in said bearingmember for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, said bearingmember having an opening in which said rod is received, said openingbeing defined by intermediate spaced confronting edges which engageopposite sides of said rod and by pairs of spaced confronting edgesextending in diverging relation from said intermediate edge, said pairsof div rging edges being located at opposite sides, respectively, ofsaid intermediate edges and engageable with said rod for limiting thepivotal movement thereof.

8. In an electric switch, a casing, bearing members secured in saidcasing and upstanding from a wall thereof, a rod mounted in said bearingmembers for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, said bearingmembers having openings in which portions of said rod are received andwhich limit the turning of said rod therein, each of said openings beingdefined by intermediate spaced confronting edges which engage oppositesides of said rod and by pairs of spaced confronting edges extending indiverging relation from said intermediate edge, said pairs of divergingedges being located at opposite sides, respectively, of saidintermediate edges and engageable with said rod for limiting the pivotalmovement thereof.

9. In an electric switch, a casing, bearing mem-v bers secured in saidcasing and upstanding from a wall thereof, a rod mounted in said bearingmembers for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, an insulatingblock secured to said casing wall independently of said bearing membersand provided with stationary contact members, a movable switch memberpositioned substantially entirely within said block and operable by saidrod and having a contact member engage able with and disengageable fromsaid stationary contact members, said block having a substantiallyclosed wall on which said stationary members are mounted and providedwith openings through which said stationary contact members extend forengagement by said movable contact member, said stationary contactmembers substantially closing said openings, said movable contact memberbeing movable by said rod from a point adjacent said closed wall of saidblock, in engagement with said stationary contacts, to disengagedposition at a point spaced a substantial distance from said stationarycontacts in a direction away from said wall of said insulation block andmeans for operating said rod.

otally mounted in said casing, a movable switch member carried by saidrod and provided with a contact member,-a hollow one-piece insulating Iblock secured removably to a wall of said casing over said rodseparately from the latter, said block having a substantially closedwall overlying said rod and said contact member, openings in said wall,and stationary contact members mounted on said wall externally thereofand extending through said openings into said block for membersupstanding from a wall of said casing, a

rod pivotally mounted in said bearing members,

a movable switch member carried by said rod and provided with a contactmembena hollow onepiece insulating block'secured to said casing wall inposition over said rod separately from the latter, said block having asubstantially closed wall overlying said rod and said contact member,openings in said wall, and stationary contact members mounted on saidwall externally thereof and extending through said openings into saidblock for engagement by said movable contact,

' said openings being substantially closed by said part in said openingfor turning movement therestationary contact members, whereby an arewhich may be formed when the electric circuit is interrupted is confinedwithin said block, said movable contact member being'movable by said rodfrom a point adjacent said closed wallof said block, in engagement withsaid stationary contacts, to disengaged position at a point spaced asubstantial distance from said stationary contacts in a direction awayfrom said wallof said insulation block the portions of said stationarycontact members which are engagea-ble by said' movable contact memberbeing spaced from the adjacent wall portions of the block to permitflexing of said portions.

12. In an electric switch, a casing having a wall provided with circularopenings, stationary and movable contact members in said casing, andmeans operable externally of the casing through said opening foractuating said movable contact member, said means comprising a handlepositioned externally of the casing and mounted for rotation in saidopening, said handle having an integral part provided with a pluralityof circumferentially spaced struck out portions rotatably engageablewith the edge of the wall "at said opening, and means for retaining saidhandle 13. In an electric switch, an operating handle composed of sheetmetal and having a substantially spherical hand-grip portion comprisingtwo substantially semi-spherical parts having their edges disposed inabutting relation and welded together, a shank portion integral withsaid handgrip portions, and. a hub integral with said shank portion. I

14. In an electric switch, an operating handle composed of sheet metaland having a substantially spherical hand-grip portion comprising two10. In an electric switch, a casing, a rod pivint spaced a substantialsubstantially semi-spherical parts having'their edges disposed inabutting relation and welded tostationary contact member, said mechanismin cluding pivoted levers and a handle having a lostmotion connectionwithone of said levers for initiating the movement thereof to effectdisengagement of saidcontactmembers, a spring for actuating said leversunder the control of said handle, and means for returning'said handle tocircuit closing position unless the movement of said levers to disengagesaid contact members is completed.

I 16; In an electric switch, stationary and movable contact members, aquick make and break mechanism vfor moving said movable contact memberinto and out of engagement with said stationary contact member, saidmechanism including pivoted levers and a handle having a lost-motionconnection with one of said levers for initiating the movement thereofto effect disen- Easement 01' said contact members, said mechanismincluding-also a spring for moving said levers to engage and disengagesaid contact members, and means associated with said mechanismcomprising a spring operative after a predetermined movement of saidlevers to assist said spring to complete the movement of said levers todisengage said contact members.

17. In an electric switch, stationary and movable contact members, aquick make and break mechanism for moving said movable contact memberinto and out of engagement with said stationary contact member, saidmechanism including spring actuated toggle levers, a movable memberhaving a lost motion connection with one of said toggle levers formoving the latter beyond dead center to open the switch, a handle foractuating said movable member, and spring means operatively connected tosaid movable member to return the handle, upon release thereof, tocircuit closing position unless said movable member has projected saidtoggle leversbeycnd the dead center thereof to open the switch.

18. In an electric switch, stationary and mov- 'able contact members, aquick make and break mechanism ,ior moving said movable contact memberinto and out of engagement with said stationary contact member, saidmechanism ineluding spring actuated toggle levers, a movable memberhaving a lost motion connection with one of said toggle levers formoving the latter beyond dead center to open the switch, a han-' dle foractuating said. movable member, and spring means operatively connectedto said movable member ,to return the handle, upon release thereof, tocircuit closing position unless said movablemember has projected saidtoggle levers beyond the dead center thereof to open the switch, saidspring means being operable upon said toggle levers to assist in theprojection thereof beyond deadcenter to switch-opening position.

19. In an electric switch, stationary and movable contact members, aquick make and break mechanism for moving said movable contact'memberintoandcutoi engagement withsaid stationary contact member, saidmechanism including spring actuated toggle levers, a movable membermaving a lost motion connection with one oi. said toggle levers formoving the latter be- .yonddeadcentertoopentheswitch,ahandleioractuating said movable member, and spring means connected to one of saidtoggle levers and engageable by said movable member to return thehandle, upon release thereoi, to circuit closing position unless saidmovable member has procluding spring actuated toggle levers, a movablemember having a lost motion connection with one of said toggle leversfor moving the latter beyond dead center to open the switch, a handlefor actuating said movable member, spring means connected to one of saidtoggle levers and engageable by said movable member to return thehandle, upon release thereof, to circuit closing position unless saidmovable member has projected said toggle levers beyond the dead centerthereof to open the switch, said spring means being stressed during themovement 01' said handle from circuit closing position toward circuitopening position whereby it is eiiective to assist the proiection ofsaid toggle levers from dead center to circuit opening position.

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